Visualization

Column

PM2.5

ggplotly(heat_map_pm2.5)

Column

ED

ED Admissions

For ED Admissions:

• The Bronx had notably higher rates than other boroughs in both periods (347.7 and 180.7 per 10,000 children)
• All boroughs saw substantial decreases between 2016-2018 and 2019-2021 (ranging from about 43-48%)
• Even after decreases, the Bronx’s 2019-2021 rate (180.7) remained higher than any other borough’s 2016-2018 rates

# Create ED Visits Map 

ed_plot <- ggplot() +
  geom_sf(data = filter(map_data, indicator == "ed_visits_rate"), 
          aes(fill = avg_rate)) +
  facet_wrap(~period) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(
    name = "Borough Average of\nED Visit Rates\nper 10,000 Children\nAged 0-17 Years", 
    option = "plasma"
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(title = "Asthma ED Visit Rates by NYC Borough",
       subtitle = "Children aged 0-17 years") +
  theme(
    plot.title = element_text(size = 12),
    legend.position = "right",
    legend.key.height = unit(2, "cm")
  )

# Display plot

ggplotly(ed_plot)

Looking at the ED visit rates map across the two time periods (2016-2018 and 2019-2021), we can observe several key patterns:

• There appears to be a general decrease in ED visit rates from 2016-2018 to 2019-2021 across most NYC boroughs, as indicated by the darker purple colors in the later period.
• The Bronx (the northernmost borough) shows notably higher ED visit rates than other boroughs in both time periods, with rates exceeding 300 per 10,000 children aged 0-17 years in 2016-2018.
• Manhattan and Brooklyn by comparison appear to have moderate rates, while Staten Island (the southernmost borough) consistently shows lower ED visit rates in both periods.

The most striking change between the two periods is the apparent reduction in ED visits during 2019-2021, which could potentially be related to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on healthcare utilization patterns.

ED Hospitalizations

For ED hospitalizations, compared to ED Admissions rates:

• Similar pattern with the Bronx having the highest rates (58.5 and 36.8 per 10,000 children)
• All boroughs showed considerable decreases between 2016-2018 and 2019-2021 (ranging from about 32-40%)
• Queens and Staten Island had the lowest hospitalization rates in both periods

# Create Hospitalizations Map 

hosp_plot <- ggplot() +
  geom_sf(data = filter(map_data, indicator == "hosp_rate"), 
          aes(fill = avg_rate)) +
  facet_wrap(~period) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(
    name = "Borough Average of\nHospitalization Rates\nper 10,000 Children\nAged 0-17 Years", 
    option = "plasma"
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  labs(title = "Asthma Hospitalization Rates by NYC Borough",
       subtitle = "Children aged 0-17 years") +
  theme(plot.title = element_text(size = 12))

# Display plot

ggplotly(hosp_plot)

Column

Temperature

Column

Greenspace

Column